Vehicle brake



E. BIRD VEHICLE BRAKE April 16, 1935.

Filed Feb. 27, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. BIRD VEHICLE BRAKE April 16, 1935.

Filed Feb. 27, 1933 2 SheejLS-Sheet 2 Inventor `/qllorncy Patented Apr. is, 1935 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE VEHICLE BRAKE Ernest Bird, Scranton, Pa., assigner of one-half to Lalli Stafl'oroni, Old Forge, Pa.

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in vehicle brakes of the uld actuated type and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth,

a braking mechanism embodying a novel construction, combination and arrangement oi' parts through the medium of which the brakes of the vehicle will be automatically applied in case of failure of the fluid pressure.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a brake mechanism of the aforementioned character which will be simple in construction, strong, durable, highly elcient and reliable in operation, compact, and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and whereinz- Figure 1 is a view in top plan, showing a braking apparatus in accordance with the present invention mounted on a vehicle.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective of a portion of the releasing mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail view, partially in vertical section, showing the means for connecting the releasing mechanism to the hand brake lever of the vehicle.

Figure 5 is a detail view in top plan of one of the cylinders and adjacent parts.

Figure 6 is a view in longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a detail View in transverse section, taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail view in section through one of the Ts which connects the fluid pressme pipes with the cylinders.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates the chassis of an automobile which is mounted on the wheels 2. As usual, brake cylinders 3 are mounted on the chassis I adjacent the wheels 2, said cylinders 3 receiving fluid under pressure from a. reservoir 4 through pipes 5. This tank or reservoir 4 preferably contains air supplied thereto by the usual compressor operated from the power plant of .the vehicle and the flow of air from the reservoir to the cylinders 3 is controlled by a valve 5', operated by the pedal 43, as shown in Figure 1. The brakes 6 of the vehicle are actuated, as usual, by rock shafts 1 to which the pistons in the cylinders 3 are operatively connected by suitable means which may include push rods 8 and arms 9 which are fixed on the rock shafts 1 and to which the rods 8 are connected, as best seen in Figure 2 of the drawings. This system is well known and it is not thought necessary to describe it in detail.

The embodiment of the present invention which has been illustrated comprises cylinders I0 which are mounted on the chassis I adjacent the wheels 2. Extending slidably into the cylinders I0 through one end thereof are rods II having fixed thereon for reciprocation in said cylinders pistons I2. The rods II extend slidably through adjusting screws I3 which are threadediy mounted in the cylinders I0 and which are secured in adjusted position through the medium of lock nuts I4. Fixed on the inner ends of the adjusting screws I3 are substantially cup-shaped heads I5. Coil springs I6 encircle the rods II in the cylinders I0 and have one end engaged with the heads I5 and the other ends engaged with the pistons I2 for yieldingly urging said pistons toward brake applying position in the cylinders.

The ends of the cylinders I0 which are remote from the adjusting screws I3 are connected with the reservoir 4 for receiving iiuid under pressure therefrom by pipes I1. nected to the cylinders I0 by T-couplings I8 having mounted therein safety valves which are designated generally by the reference numeral I9, as best seen in Figure 8 of the drawings. The safety valves I9 are, of course, adjustable. 'Ihe T-couplings I8 are further provided with check valves 20, each of which includes a bleed-way 2 I. The cylinders II) are further provided with oil cups 22 and drain valves 23. Extending from the ends of the cylinders I0 to which the pipes I1 are connected are fluid release valves 24 and these valves are normally held closed by the springs 24'.

Arms 25 are fixed on the rock shafts 1 of the vehicle brakes 6 and extend oppositely from the arms 9. Slotted yokes 26 are mounted on the piston rods II and are connected to the arms 25 by pin and slot connections 21, the slots in the yokes 26 permitting application of the vehicle 'H brakes in the usual manner by the pistons in the cylinders 3 Without interference by the pistons I2.

Spaced flanges 28 project laterally from one end portion of the cylinders I0 and secured between said anges are brackets 29. Levers 3l) The pipes I1 are con-- are pivotally connected, at intermediate points, to the brackets 29 and have one end forked in a manner to straddle the piston rods II for engagement with collars 3| which are fixed on said piston rods. The collars 3l may, -of course, be adjustable on the piston rods II. Stop pins 32 (see Figure 6) are mounted transversely in the piston rods. II in the cylinders I3 for engagement with the heads I3 for limiting the movement of the pistons I2 against the coil springs I3 under impulsion by the iiuid from the reservoir 4.

Mounted transversely in the chassis I is a rock shaft 33 having xed thereon OppositelyV extending arms 34. Rods 33 operatively connect the levers 33 to the arms 34. Also xed on the rock shaft 33 is an arm 33 to which one end of a rod 31 is pivotally connected. The other end portion of the rod 31 is slidabl'y engaged in 'an opening provided therefor in the lower portion of the hand brake lever 33 of the vehicle and has mounted thereon a stop 33. The reference numeral 43 designates the usual rod which connects the propeller shaft brake 43' of the vehicle to the lever 33. It will thus be seen that sufficient movement of the lever 33 to apply the hand brakes of the vehicle will be permitted without moving the rod 31 unless air has been released from the cylinders I3 to permit the springs I 6 to operate the pistons I2, for when this takes place, the levers 33 move the rods 33 and the shaft 33 to positions wherethe rod 31 moves rearwardly to a position where .its head 33 will be engaged by the lower end of the lever 33, when the lever is moved toward brake applying position. Thus when the lever is moved to a certain extent toward brake applying position, it will rock the shaft 33 through means of the rod 31 and this movement of the shaft 33 will operate the rods 33, which in turn operate the levers 33, which will move the pistons I2 against the action of the springs I3 so that the yokes 23 will release the wheel brakes. However, it is to be understood that this lever 33 is not moved to its full extent so that it will not apply the brake 43'. 1

The reference numeral 4I designates a rock shaft which is mounted vtransversely in the chassis I preferably adjacent the transmission of the vehicle. Fixed 'on the rock shaft 4I is an upstanding arm 44 to which one end of a rod 43 is pivotally connected. The other end of the rod 43 is pivotally connected to an upstanding arm 43 which is ilxed on a rock shaft 41 journaled transversely in the chassis I. Oppositely extending arms 43 are fixed on the end portions of the rock shaft 41 and have connected thereto cables 43 which are connected to the fluid release valves 24 of the cylinders I3 in a manner to open said valves 24 when the lever 42 is actuated in the proper direction.

It will thus be seen that the compressed air from the tank 4 is supplied to the cylinders 3 through the pipes 5 for operating the spring pressed pistons in said cylinders to causethe rods 3 to operate the wheel brakes through the arms 3 and shafts 1 and that the ilow of air to said cylinders 3 is controlled by the valve 3 operated by the pedal 43. As before stated, this is conventional structure.

It will also be seen that the compressed air is supplied to the cylinders I3 from the tank 4 through the pipes I1 so that the pistons I2 are held in projected positions and against the action of the springs I3, with the yokes 23 in a position to permit application and release of the wheel brakes by the pistons in the cylinders 3. If anything should happen to the braking systemto cause the air to leak therefrom, the air would 4 also leak from the cylinders I3, through the bleed movement of the pistons under the action of the springs would move the levers 33, rods 33. shaft 33 and rod 31 .so that the head 33 of the rod 31 would be in a'position vwhere it would be engaged by partial movement of the lever 33 to brake applying position and when the lever was so moved, the rod 31 would move forwardly, thus rocking the shaft 33 and exerting a pull upon the rods 33, thus causing the levers 33 to operate the rods II through means of the collars 3I to cause the yokes 23 to `release the wheel brakes through means of the 'arms 23. 0f course, this movement of the rods I I will cause the pistons I2 to move against the action of the springs 32 so that as soon as the lever 33 is moved back to its releasing position, the springs I3 return the parts to their brake applying position. Thus when the braking system has been rendered inoperative throughv leakage of air, the lever 33 is used to release'the wheel brakes, said brakes being applied vby the springs I3. Attention is called to the fact that ,when the lever-33 is used for releasing the brakes of the wheels when such brakes have been applied by the springs I3, said lever must not be'moved to the full limit of its rearward stroke, as this would apply the brake 43' through means of the rod 43, but said lever 33 is simply moved rearwardly to release the wheel brakesA without applying the brake 43. It will be understood that this lever 33, when used as above described, simply acts with the rest o f my invention as an emergency braking system until the air system of the regular braking system can be repaired.

If the air system should fail for any reason and it is necessary to suddenly ,apply the wheel ths cylinders I3 so that if any one of the cylinders I3 and their associated parts should be rendered inoperative for any reason, said cylinder can be cut out of the system by closinga valve 33 so that the other cylinders I3 and their associated parts can continue to operate.

1. A vehicle brake comprising, in combination, a fluid pressure reservoir, cylinders mounted on the vehicle, pistons operable in the cylinders, means operatively connecting the pistons to the brakes of the vehicle, means yieldingly urging the pistons toward operative position, common means operatively connected to the pistons for manually actuating the pistons to inoperative position, means connecting the cylinders to the reservoir for receiving fluid under pressure therefrom for normally maintaining the pistons in inoperative position, valves connected to the cylinders for releasing the fluid from said cylinders, and ,commonv means operatively connected to the valves for manually opening said valves.

2. A vehicle brake comprising a cylinder, a fluid pressure reservoir, a piston operable in the cylinder, means operatively connecting the piston CII to a brake of the vehicle, a coil spring mounted in the cylinder and engaged with the piston for yieldingly urging said piston toward brake applying position, means for regulating the tension of the coil spring, means operatively connected with the piston for manually actuating said piston to inoperative position against the tension of the coil spring, means connecting the cylinder with the reservoir for receiving fluid under pressure therefrom for normally maintaining the piston in inoperative position against the tension of the coil spring, and means for releasing the fluid from the cylinder, the last named means including a valve connected to the cylinder, a rock shaft journaled on the vehicle, a cable connecting the valve to the rock shaft for actuation to open position thereby, another rock shaft journaled on the vehicle, an operating lever connected to the second named rock shaft, and means connecting the first named rock shaft to the second named rock shaft for actuation thereby.

3. In combination with a vehicle brake and uid pressure means, manually controlled, for applying the brake, such means including a cylinder, a reservoir for the fluid under pressure and a conduit for connecting the reservoir with the cylinder, a second cylinder, a conduit connecting the same with the fluid system, a check valve in the conduit for holding pressure in the second cylinder, and a bleed port for permitting pressure to slowly escape from said second cylinder past the check valve, whereby a leak in the fluid system Will drain the second cylinder to permit the spring to apply the brake, a piston in the second cylinder, means for connecting the piston with the brake, a spring for normally holding the piston in a position with the said brake applied, the piston being moved to brake releasing position by the fluid pressure, and manually operated means for moving the piston of the second cylinder to brake releasing position.

4. In combination with a vehicle brake and fluid pressure means, manually controlled, for applying the brake, such means including a cylinder, a reservoir for the fluid under pressure and a conduit for connecting the reservoir with the cylinder, a second cylinder, a conduit connecting the same with the fluid system, a piston in the second cylinder, a rod connected with the piston and passing through one end of the second cylinder, a yoke connected with the outer end of the rod and having an opening therein for receiving a part of the brake, whereby said brake can be operated by the fluid pressure means without interference by the yoke when the piston in the second cylinder is projected by the uid pressure, a spring for normally holding the piston in a position with the said brake applied, the piston being moved to brake releasing position by the fluid pressure, means whereby a leak in the fluid system will drain the second cylinder to permit the spring to apply the brake, manually operated means for moving the piston of the second cylinder to brake releasing position, such means including a lever pivotally supported intermediate its ends and having an opening in one end through which the piston rod passes, the projections on the rod for moving the lever when the rod and piston are moved by the spring in the second cylinder, a rod connected with the other end of the latter, a manually operated member and means for connecting the rod to such member, and manually operated means for releasing the fluid in the second cylinder.

ERNEST BIRD. 

